Photo by Marissa Tiel
DRILLING FOR TALENT 鈥� Yukon soccer players run drills as Bart Choufour, director and head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps academy centres and pre-residency looks on. Local soccer players had the chance to work with Choufour and northern B.C. program coach, Craig Angus, during a Whitecaps talent identification camp at Porter Creek Secondary School this week.
A group of young soccer athletes worked with coaches this week in Yukon鈥檚 first Vancouver Whitecaps Prospects Training Camp.
A group of young soccer athletes worked with coaches this week in Yukon鈥檚 first Vancouver Whitecaps Prospects Training Camp.
Athletes trained with Bart Choufour, the director and head coach of the Whitecaps鈥� academy centres and pre-residency programs and Craig Angus, a program coach in northern B.C.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been really good,鈥� said Choufour as training wrapped up at Porter Creek Secondary School yesterday. 鈥淭he players have been tremendous and I think they鈥檝e really enjoyed it too, so it鈥檚 been a win-win for sure.鈥�
Choufour was first introduced to Yukon soccer players in April 2015, when he was in the territory for a 鈥済oodwill tour鈥� to get acquainted with the competitive program and to introduce Yukon athletes and their parents to the Whitecaps鈥� development programs and the football club鈥檚 philosophies, including working on player habits and positive play, meaning if there鈥檚 an opportunity to go forward with the ball, you do.
The Whitecaps currently have training centres across Canada, and while there aren鈥檛 enough players in Yukon for its own training centre, Choufour would like to keep making the trip north a couple times a year to continue working with coaches and athletes.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 fantastic to have a professional club like the Whitecaps have interest in coming to Whitehorse and working with and identifying talent in the community,鈥� said Strikers coach Jake Hanson. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a fantastic boost.鈥�
He said he could feel the energy and enthusiasm of the players as they played for the Whitecaps coaches.
Yukon soccer is no stranger to out-of-territory coaches. Sean Fleming, the former U17 Canadian national team coach has done camps here before.
鈥淲e鈥檝e always had a relationship with top-level coaches Outside,鈥� said Hanson.
While no soccer player from the Yukon has taken part in the Whitecaps pre-residency or residency programs full-time, there has been some participation in prospects residency camps.
Rhys Faragher and Joe Hanson have also spent time training in northern B.C. with the Whitecaps Prospects program in Prince George.
Callum Wood-Ryan also played in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy on U17 and U18 elite teams with the Real Salt Lake Club.
Joe Hanson also plays for the Crossfire Premiers 鈥�03 boys pre-academy team, which plays in the same league as a Whitecaps development team.
Players who took part in the camp are leaving with a renewed energy.
Frejean Pourier, a local 17-year-old goalie, said that it was one of the best camps he has attended. Pourier has travelled to Alaska, the Netherlands and Curacao for soccer camps.
鈥淭he coaches were really good,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey were really one on one with you and they want to talk with you so you can actually understand what鈥檚 going on.鈥�
It鈥檚 likely the Whitecaps relationship with Yukon soccer will continue to develop.
Choufour said they鈥檇 like the opportunity to scout Yukon players and work with them according to their philosophy.
鈥淲e want to be Canada鈥檚 club,鈥� said Choufour. 鈥淵ukon is part of our MLS territory.鈥圵e want to have a presence here.鈥�
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